Joe Lovano Us Five Celebrate The Charlie Parker Centennial

WHEN: premieres Tuesday, September 8th, at 7pm and remains available for on demand purchase through September 22nd.
WHERE: on the BroadwayWorld Events streaming platform

Exclusively for Radio Free Birdland's Charlie Parker Centennial celebration, Cleveland native saxophonist Joe Lovano, “one of the most creative saxophonists going,” (Boston Globe) revisits his recording, "Bird Songs," a thrillingly adventurous, thoroughly modern, and uniquely personal look at one of the most influential figures in jazz history, Charlie Parker. Lovano's dynamic band, Us Five, is the perfect vehicle for this exploration. The Los Angeles Times says, "leave it to restless tenor saxophonist Joe Lovano to take the idea of a tribute and turn it on its head… Lovano and his band expertly show the many ways these classics can still throw sparks." Featuring: James Weidman (piano) Peter Slavov (bass) Otis Brown III and Francisco Mela (drums).

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Tenor saxophonist Houston Person is a living legend of jazz. The South Carolina native is a keeper of the soul jazz tradition, having earned his reputation on the 1960’s-70’s “Chitlin’ Circuit,” in organ groups led by John Hammond, Charles Earland, and Don Patterson. Most notably, he spent three decades as the melodic foil to the late jazz vocalists Etta Jones and Freddy Cole. For Radio Free Birdland, Houston teams with emerging star pianist Emmet Cohen’s trio. With Yasushi Nakamura (bass) and Evan Sherman (drums).

TICKETS

About Radio Free Birdland

Birdland, in association with BroadwayWorld.com, is proud to present “Radio Free Birdland,” a pay-per-view concert series featuring a slew of exciting Broadway, jazz and cabaret performers. Each show will be filmed with three cameras, state-of-the-art sound, socially distanced musicians, and…no audience!

At press time, performers will include Paulo Szot, Kate Rockwell, Aisha de Haas, Max von Essen (with special guest Nick Adams), Julie Halston, Jessica Vosk, Jim Brickman, Nikki Renee Daniels, Billy Stritch, Matt Baker & Nicole Zuraitis, Christopher Sieber, Janis Siegel, Michael West as Kenn Boisinger, Natalie Douglas, Amanda Green, Monty Alexander, Houston Person, Telly Leung, The Skivvies, Christina Bianco, Gabrielle Stravelli, and many more.

A new show will be aired every Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm.

Each concert will kick off with a live premiere event, featuring a special chat (which will include the performer) and will then be on-demand for 30 days on BroadwayWorld Events.

The “Radio Free Birdland” Concert Series will be presented on the BroadwayWorld Events streaming platform. Longtime Birdland staffers Ryan Paternite produces and directs and Jim Caruso serves as producer.

A brief history about the name: During the Cold War in 1950, “Radio Free Europe” began broadcasting news and jazz recordings to nations imprisoned behind the Iron Curtain, sustaining morale and providing entertainment. Similarly, the producers at Birdland look forward to bringing extraordinary talent to the masses who are quarantined in their homes during the pandemic.

Birdland has been bringing live music to New York City since its opening in 1949. The iconic club made its name booking premier jazz acts on the stage, and has since included Broadway, pop, cabaret and comedy on the roster. For the first time since quarantine started, the Birdland family is excited to be one of the first live music venues in New York City to virtually re-open for twice-weekly concerts, offering work to beloved performers, and bringing life back to West 44 Street!